Leslie James Leonard Standish, a lance corporal in the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment (2 Para), has died at the age of 65 following a battle with cancer. Standish was recognized for his gallantry during the 1982 Falklands War, receiving the Military Medal for his actions in the intense Battle of Goose Green.
Born in Bolton, Lancashire, in 1961, Standish came from a military family; his father served in the 14th/20th King’s Hussars for 18 years. His childhood was spent in various locations including Cyprus, Libya, Germany, and Hong Kong. Standish enlisted in the British Army in 1976, volunteering for the Parachute Regiment and joining 2 Para’s B Company in Berlin a year later. The battalion later served in Northern Ireland, where Standish was promoted to lance corporal under the command of Major Mike Jackson, who would go on to become General Sir Mike Jackson.
During the Falklands conflict, Standish, then just turned 21, found himself in a leadership role at a young age, acting as section commander despite being a lance corporal, a rank typically below section commander. In late May 1982, 2 Para launched a night attack on Argentinian forces entrenched near Darwin and Goose Green. Facing nearly 1,200 Argentinian soldiers—double the strength of the British unit—Standish led his rifle section through a series of close-quarters engagements in difficult terrain and under heavy fire.
Standish's Military Medal citation highlighted his leadership and bravery in clearing enemy trenches and rescuing a wounded soldier under fire. The Battle of Goose Green, while costly, resulted in the surrender of approximately 950 Argentinian troops, marking a significant, though sobering, victory for British forces. The operation served as a morale boost but also underscored the resilience and preparedness of the opposing forces. Standish and 2 Para would later engage in further combat near Port Stanley.
After leaving the army in 1986, Standish worked as a physical training instructor in the prison service. He was seriously injured during the 1990 Strangeways Prison riot, an experience that exacerbated undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Struggling with mental health, alcohol abuse, and homelessness, Standish faced multiple personal challenges, including two failed marriages and legal troubles related to drug offenses. At one point, he contemplated suicide while incarcerated, but was encouraged by visits from his children.
In later years, Standish sought treatment for PTSD and engaged in veteran support charities. He developed an unexpected friendship with a former Argentinian soldier, collaborating on educational outreach involving schoolchildren in both the UK and Argentina. Standish married his third wife, Julie Norris, in 2021.
Reflecting on his wartime experience, Standish described the psychological toll of combat, including persistent flashbacks and nightmares. Despite these struggles, he refrained from excuses and critiqued the cultural expectations within the military that discouraged open discussions of mental health.
Standish is survived by his wife and four children, two from each of his previous marriages. His life story highlights both heroism in battle and the long-term effects of military service on mental well-being.